Summary

On 4 June, 2018, about 1152 PDT (Pacific Daylight Time), a GippsAero GA10, VH-XMH, was substantially damaged following a loss of control during spin testing and subsequent impact with terrain at Mojave, California.

The crew were assessing the aircraft’s spin characteristics with a belly-mounted cargo pod installed. An attempt to deploy the spin chute to aid the spin recovery failed, resulting in the crew electing to bail out. The two crew successfully exited the aircraft and deployed their parachutes whereupon they landed safely, but suffered minor injuries. The aircraft was operating under an Australian experimental certificate and a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) special flight authorisation.